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One Gigantic Longshot

While fullback has become the NFL’s Tyrannosaurus, and one would think a cutting edge offense like Jeff Tedford’s wouldn’t use one, Joe saw differently during the Buccaneers’ OTA practices.

Monstrous fullback Jorvorskie Lane was busy catching passes with the first team.

The guy checks in at 5-11 and somewhere around 270 pounds, a motivated manbeast who hasn’t cast aside his NFL dreams since coming undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2009. Lane’s lone NFL action came in 2012 with the Dolphins. He was out of football last year — again.

This guy just won’t mail it in. He’s a longshot, but there’s something special about Lane. Joe can’t quite put a finger on it, but even when Lane catches a ball in practice, there’s an extra buzz along the Bucs’ offensive sidelines, an extra cheer from teammates, a little bit of Love for the giant fire hydrant in the room.

Joe found an interview Lane gave when he was hoping to lead the Arena ball team in Orlando to a championship. Here’s an excerpt:

Q: How have you been preparing for the 2012 Arena Football League season?

Jorvorskie Lane: I have been training in MMA for about a year. I am in tiptop shape and ready to play some football.

Q: What MMA drills help with your football game?

JL: A lot of MMA skills relate to football. A lot of body weight drills are performed, you throw and lift 300-pound tires, and it is a lot of hand eye coordination and footwork. Football is going to be the easy part.

Q: What are you planning on bringing to this Predators team?

JL: I am planning on bringing a championship to Orlando. That is one of my main goals. I have competed for the Big 12 and now I am ready to step it up and compete in the AFL.

Q: In 2009 your dream of making an NFL team was cut short. How has this experience affected you?

JL: It motivated me big time. I could have easily drowned, but I chose to fight for it. I learned that no matter what you want in life, all you need to do is continue to fight for it.

Q: With a nickname like “J-Train” and being compared to Jerome Bettis, what are you like outside of football?

JL: A lot of people see my style of play with running the ball and running people over, but I am not a tough guy. I love to play football and win. I’ll do whatever it takes to win.

A couple of things stand out.

First, Imagine Lane in the MMA ring. Sheesh. But then he goes on and says he’s not “a tough guy.” So clearly he was just going through the MMA workouts that have become so popular.

Also noteworthy is that Lane never played for the Orlando Predators. Joe can’t confirm it, but apparently Lane quit before he started. So much for the championship he sought.

Regardless, Lane is a guy to watching in Bucs training camp. If the Bucs keep a fullback, then Lane seems to be the lead dog, ahead of former Florida State bruiser and Greg Schiano man Lonnie Pryor. Also, if the Bucs keep a fullback, that further tightens the competition on the running backs depth chart. Few teams keep more than three RBs and a fullback like Lane who can run the ball in a pinch.

Fullback has become a forgotten position. The funny thing is that when you look back at those Cowboys teams of the 90’s and to our beloved A-train, those fullbacks were a HUGE part of those team’s success. Moose was good for that occasional flat pass or curl up the middle. It kept defenses guessing. Does anybody remember how many passes Alstott caught his rookie year? A LOT! And, defenses could do nothing about it.
Yeah, the game has changed, but only because we changed it. I still believe that “old school” football is still a very viable approach.
Good luck Javorskie!

I don’t think we’ll keep a FB…..it may come down to special teams for players like Demps…..if he can do PR/KR…..he stays….we may end up trading James or Rainey.
I don’t think we would have let Lorig go if we were very interested in a FB.

I don’t agree with the idea of if we had wanted a fullback that we would have kept Lorig. Yes, Lorig was better and more of a known commodity, but if this offense doesn’t utilize a fullback on a consistent basis (and it appears it won’t, from what is trickling out of practices, etc), then why would Lovie and the team invest $4.8M into the position when you can have a younger, CHEAPER player?
I won’t be surprised either way if we do or don’t keep a true fullback, but I’ve a feeling we’ll just use a TE in that spot.

I’d be shocked if Mike James doesn’t make the final cut…he’s a very capable lead blocker if need be, he can play ST’s, and he also pass protects 10 times better than Rainey or Demps..As much as I like Rainey and Demps they are the backs in most danger of not making the team (this is assuming we keep a FB on the roster)…Personally, I’d rather we not keep a “FB” on the roster and keep those 2 guys I just mentioned…with that said Demps desperately needs to carve out a role on this team…with his speed, I’d love to see win the return specialist job…that may be the only way he makes the squad…